In an ongoing effort to improve housing access and fairness, Olympia city officials are weighing proposals to restrict the types of information landlords can use during tenant screening. The recommendations, discussed at a May 22 meeting of the Land Use and Environment Committee, aim to address long-standing barriers in the rental process, especially those affecting low-income residents, people of color, and individuals with disabilities.
Read: Belmar Planning Board Approves Third-Round Affordable Housing Plan
Push for Fairer Screening Sparks Public Support
More than 60 community members and city council members rallied outside Olympia City Hall in March 2024, backing stronger tenant protections. This followed the city’s December 2023 move to adopt a rental housing registry and inspection program designed to protect renters and promote safe living conditions. The city council also has limited fees landlords can charge, such as move-in costs and pet deposits.
Also read: Tenants Protest NYC Landlord Ranked No. 6 for Worst Conditions
New Rules Target Screening Bias
City staff proposed rules that would limit how landlords evaluate applicants, focusing specifically on criminal records, credit history, rental background, and the use of Social Security numbers. Christa Lenssen, a senior housing program specialist, emphasized that these measures are not intended to ban tenant screening but to prevent practices that might unfairly exclude certain groups. Lenssen cited legal precedent establishing that even neutral screening practices can violate fair housing laws if they disproportionately impact specific communities, a concept known as “disparate impact liability.”…